Thread: RSTH episode last night RIVER CROSSINGS

4.5 mm dyneema rope 1100 kg breaking strain. 100 metres weighs 952 grams. Plus the short length of heavier rope to tie to the man and couple pairs gloves

What a great episode and good call to show how treacherous rivers can be as so easy to get wrong. I took one look at the crossing and said to the wife they won't be crossing there - the depth and velocity was scary with some mean standing waves. Was relieved when you pulled the pin! Be good to cover off things like best place to cross a river (bends vs downstream rapids/runouts), how to arrange your pack straps before crossing, proper use of a pole, crossing in a group vs solo and what to do if you lose your footing.

Well done @The Hunters Club

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

The best river crossing training I have had was with NZDF Territorials. We did swift deep crossings - crossing the Rakaia main stem, someone swimming a line across first. Crossing really deep still water with our packs INSIDE plastic bags as a floatation device. Rope belays for three man party. All much worse than RSHC. Civil defence, suspended stretcher crossing etc.
I am sure some of the ex RF guys here would have some really good advice on all sorts of crossings from all round the world, but for what its worth if I was with those Red Stag blokes I would have used a rope belay to get the team over.

Did a bit of military training myself back in the day. Unfortunately in this instance, we didn't have rope as it's not usually any need for it when spring meat hunting, and it was only a two man party. Plus, I'm not sure I'd have been happy floating a pack with $20K worth of camera gear in it down the river, even if we had a reliable plastic bag to encase it in!

I got caught out a solo day hunt years ago, been for a hunt and on the way back to the car park i shot a deer on the other side of the river on a bluff system. Cross the river and was on the limits with little bit of colour. Time i had got the deer down and taken meat from it the river had more colour and had come up, got half way across and got taken of my feet and went under. Had the back legs on my shoulder lost those and my beanie. Got out back on the track side off the river freezing cold starting making my way back to to truck freak i was cold.
Stripped off got dry cloths on and still took a long time to start warming up
Beacon's weren't really around then, couldn't walk up or down from where i was or go up.
Learnt a lesson that day, no animal is worth you life to recover and i should have waited it out and also don't expect premium cuts shooting animals on the top of bluffs

Don't think I would have used the rope @moahunter. Good in deep strong river but where the boys were trying to cross a single person was going to go for a ride downstream and a rope in that instance could be dangerous...get pulled sideways and go against a boulder and the hydraulic force is going to keep you there. Incredible the power of water. I think stowing the rifle and the upstream man using a pole would have been best in a marginal situation if must cross.

Worst memory is parking at Klondike Cnr crossing the Waimak on an overnight trip to have rain making the river impassable so had to walk out on the all weather track and cross the bridge to walk all the way back to the car. Was miserable - didn't even stop for a Sheffield Pie.

I assume you flew the drone far enough down stream of where you got dropped off in the chopper to check for the swing bridge. Not sure if that swing bridge is still there as its a couple of years since I have been up that side of the valley etc.
Anyway good episode in some nice country.

It's not only rivers you have to watch. I was down near Haast once and had to cross a small knee deep and probably only 4-metres deep stream to get to a beach to take some pics. Well it was always easy to cross; no hard flow at all. After a night of heavy West Coast rain I decided to go back to the beach. I got to the stream and it was flowing strongly but only about thigh deep so I decided to cross.

I got about a metre out and realised I'd f&&ked up. My feet were beginning to lift off the bottom and the current was nuts..... I'd got to the point of no-return and holding onto a tiny branch for balance was the only thing keeping me upright. I couldn't go forward and had to somehow shuffle back.

Long story short..... I shuffled back. It took me about 10-mins to get the metre or so to the bank and I was crapping myself the entire way...... Was bloody scary because (stupidly) no one knew where i was and i was wearing a heavy camo jacket.... I learnt a lesson that day. It was deceptive as to how much strength that current had; it looked pretty innocuous.....

Oh; and that tv episode the other night made my stomach clench a bit!

Originally Posted by 7mag

I assume you flew the drone far enough down stream of where you got dropped off in the chopper to check for the swing bridge. Not sure if that swing bridge is still there as its a couple of years since I have been up that side of the valley etc.
Anyway good episode in some nice country.

Yeah, the swing bridge was removed apparently, I've been told that DOC didn't want the liability that came with the maintenance and upkeep of it.

Originally Posted by Tikka7mm08

Don't think I would have used the rope @moahunter. Good in deep strong river but where the boys were trying to cross a single person was going to go for a ride downstream and a rope in that instance could be dangerous...get pulled sideways and go against a boulder and the hydraulic force is going to keep you there. Incredible the power of water. I think stowing the rifle and the upstream man using a pole would have been best in a marginal situation if must cross.

Worst memory is parking at Klondike Cnr crossing the Waimak on an overnight trip to have rain making the river impassable so had to walk out on the all weather track and cross the bridge to walk all the way back to the car. Was miserable - didn't even stop for a Sheffield Pie.

How about you and Danny meet me at the Ashley bridge with your Carabiners next time its at 30 or 40 cumecs and we brush up on our technique. I will bring the rope.
Read this link first
https://wilderlife.nz/wp-content/upl...March-2020.pdf

Cameraman Dave and anyone else also welcome

You're on @Moa Hunter - I call shotgun on holding the rope on the bank while you cross

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

How about you and Danny meet me at the Ashley bridge with your Carabiners next time its at 30 or 40 cumecs and we brush up on our technique. I will bring the rope.
Read this link first
https://wilderlife.nz/wp-content/upl...March-2020.pdf

Cameraman Dave and anyone else also welcome

Just want to be clear I also will be holding the dry end of the rope

I am happy to cross first, though I might invite Glen along as rescue, just incase there is skulduggerous dunkings planned.

Originally Posted by berg243

i am sure them fellas wont fill your pack full of rocks and a demented possum.

Perhaps, but I dont trust them for the one on the main rope not to suddenly release tension at the wrong time while the other bloke gives a side pull on the rescue line. At least its not far from the bridge to the Ashley Hotel !!

Pub sounds good.